Detroit Tigers rookie Nick Castellanos gets first hit with good friend waiting at first base

Detroit Free Press | Sep 9

Here is how amazing baseball is: Someone who was your teammate when you were young can years later become the one that picks up the ball when you get a milestone hit in the major leagues.

It has happened twice on this Tigers trip.

On Wednesday night in Boston Tigers rightfielder Torii Hunter fielded the double that was the 2000th big-league hit for David Ortiz.

“That’s amazing. I can’t believe that” Hunter said. “We were roommates all through the minors with the Twins. He cooked all the time. He’s one of my best buddies in the game.”

And it happened on Saturday night in Kansas City when Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer couldn’t hold on to the throw on the play that became the first career big-league hit for Nick Castellanos.

Hosmer and Castellanos played on the same high school team American Heritage School in south Florida.

“We were 2008 state champions” Castellanos said. “We have a pretty good friendship because we won a state title together.”

On Friday night before the Tigers-Royals series opener Castellanos and Hosmer talked for several minutes in the outfield before the game.

Castellanos was 0-for-3 in the big leagues when he sent a tapper on Saturday night toward Emilio Bonifacio at second. Bonifacio had to hurry a low throw and umpire Ted Barrett started to call Castellanos out as Hosmer got his glove on the ball. Hosmer couldn’t hold on and Castellanos was safe.